Composition for filling cavities in trees



. ee ed Den 13,1927. I is ,222 UNITED STATES-PATENT Torsion;

ALBERT r. w. VIGK, onoYNwYn, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMPOSITION FOR FILLING CAVITIES IN TREES.

Ho Drawing. Application filed June 16, 1 923, Serial No. 645,906.

In the case of trees having diseased and the form of relatively short portions, one-' decayed portions therein the removal of such eighth of an inch, more or' less, in length; portions and the filling of the cavities thus amorphous or colloidal silica, known in theproducedrwith a composition of matter of trade and sold as decomposed silica; and 5 one kind or another has become a very gen magnesium chloride in solution. eral practice; but for one cause or another; The first four of the above named ingredithe compositions or compoundsheretofore in cuts may be employed in the proportions of use, have not been entirely satisfactory. one hundred pounds of calcined magnesite, Suchcompositions or compounds have in fifty pounds of wood-flour, twenty-five 6 1 some instances been too rigid and too heavy; pounds of asbestos and twenty-five pounds in others too porous; and in others the exof amorphous or colloidal silica. It is to be pansion and contraction thereof 'under the understood that these proportions may be influence of heat and cold have been so dif-' varied to a considerable extent withoutdeferent from the corresponding characteris-- parting from myinvention. The ingredients 7 iii tics of the wood of the tree under treatment should be employed in such proportions that that'disastrousresultshave followed. These the finishedproduct shall possess the desugges'tions' are indicative merely of the difsired qualities and characteristics of elasticulties which heretofore have been encounticity, requisite contraction and expansion tered. under the influence of cold and heat as com- 7 The general object of my invention is to pared with the corresponding qualities and provide a novel composition of matter, free characteristics of the wood of the tree under from the objections inherent inv the fillers treatment, and other qualities incident to a heretofore in use, which is adapted for use filler satisfactory for the purpose in hand. as a filler for the cavities in trees produced The four ingredients above mentioned are by the removal of decayed anl diseased porthoroughly mixed and intermingled. Preftions thereof. erably in the mixing and interminglino of A further object of the invention is to these ingredients small portions thereof are provide a novel composition of matter for placed in a mixing box or vat and are thorthe purpose indicated which is durable; oughly mixed together. Thereafter addi- 30 which has suflicient elasticity to permit it tional small portions are added and are thorto bend and sway in harmony with the bendoughly mixed with each other and with the ing and swaying of a'tree having a cavity portions previously. mixed together and so in which it has been placed; and which also on until the mixing of the materials has been possesses the requisite characteristics of concompleted. The mixture thus produced is traction and expansion under the influence dried and is ready to be placed in vats or of cold and heat as compared with the wood other containers and is then ready for adof the tree under treatment. mixture with magnesium chloride in solu- It is practically impossible to provide :1 tion for'the production of a plastic mass of filler having properties of elasticity, cona character which may be .inserted and 4 traction, etc., identical with the correspond packed into a cavlty to be filled.

ing characteristics of the woods of trees of In the use I of the composition for filling the various varieties which may be treated, the cavities of trees the decayed and diseased but it is possible to produce a composition portions or sections of the tree are removed of matter for filling trees in which these so as to produce a clean cavity free from 45 characteristics shall approximate the cordiseased or decayed particles after which the responding characteristics of the woods of said cavity prefera ly should be covered the trees being treated with suflicient closewith a coating of paint impervious to the mess for all practical purposes. salts which may be present in the filling Other objects and advantages of the incompound or composition. Asphaltum paint 1 50 vention will be pointed out in the detailed may be employed w'th good results, particdescription thereof which follows or will be ularly when Trinidad asphaltum is employed apparent fromsuch description. as an ingredient, but any other suitable My invention consists of a composition in: paint impervious to water and to the salts cluding the following ingredients, namely, of the composition may be. employed. calcined magnesite; wood-flour, that is, The cavity having been prepared the finely divided Wood; asbestos, preferably in proper amount of the dry mixture is'then admixed With magnesium chloride in solution and immediately packed into said cavity. The magnesium chloride solution may have a specific gravity ranging from eighteen to twenty-three degrees Baum but generally a solution having a specific gravity of nineteen or twenty degrees Baum Will be employed. The proportions of the dry mixture and magnesium chloride solution should be such as to produce a product having such plasticityithat it may be readily inserted into the cavity and tightly molded against the sides thereof so as to completely fill the same.

By the combining of the ingredients as above indicated I produce a composition Which When it hardens and sets possesses the requisite qualities and characteristics of elasticity, specific gravity or weight, porosity, contraction and expansion and also the requisite healing qualities to render it eifi cient and desirable as a filling material for the cavities of trees of various kinds and varieties.

I desire it to be understood thatany invention is not limited to the exact proportions of the ingredients employed in the production of the composition as hereinbefore set forth but such proportions may be varied Within reasonable limits as may be found desirable in practice; also that my invention extends to and comprehends other ingrethan those mentioned which may be 7 dients substituted therefor as equivalents.

Having thus described my invention What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A composition of matter for use in the a plastic composi- In testimony that I claim the foregoing i as my invention I have hereunto signed my name this 23rd day of February, A. D. 1923.

ALBERT F. W. VICK. 

